When we recommend leaving San Francisco de Macorís
We recommend a pickup 3.5 hours before your flight from San Francisco de Macorís. The route goes back through La Vega before joining the Autopista Duarte toward Santiago, and the road through town and La Vega's own traffic can add time that a straight highway run would not. STI's terminal is compact and clears quickly, so this buffer is built around the drive and a safety margin, not a long security process. Add 20–30 minutes for a group of six or more.